Ponsanooth is a hamlet 3 miles N.W. of Penryn, and 6 from Truro. It is situated on the road from Falmouth and Redruth to Penryn. This profile of Ponsanooth Wesleyan Chapel was compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
1813: Cemetery opened behind the site ofthe chapel.
Said to be two previous chapels on the site.
1834: Death of William Carvosso (1750-1834) who was buried here.
1843 Chapel
The Chapel in Chapel Hill was built in just six months in 1843, at the height of Methodism in Cornwall and a time when the square mile between Redruth and Falmouth was considered one of the wealthiest in the world.
Fairly large Wesleyan chapel plus attached schoolroom. Granite ashlar front, otherwise rubble with granite dressings. Oval gallery plan with evidence of former “City Road” style layout including original communion window in round apse. 2-storeys; 3-bay front with truncated pediment in 2 stages, the upper part shaped and with central oculus, central bay broken forward and surmounted by mini pediment rising into main pediment. Good rusticated doorcase with elliptical arch and original panelled doors, rusticated quoins, original sash windows throughout, the 1st-floor sashes at the front with intersecting glazing bars to round-arched heads. Semi-circular plan slate-hung communion apse at rear with altered upper stage to accommodate organ. Fine interior with ceiling rose and original oval gallery with panelled front. Grained original box pews, balustraded rostrum on columns. Round spoked communion window visible in what is now the vestry. Sunday school attached to rear right-hand corner has original16-pane sash windows. Dressed granite forecourt walls and gate-piers. In many ways the best Methodist chapel in Cornwall. Listed and illustrated in Stell (b1). (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
Ponsanooth Methodist Church, including forecourt walls, steps and gate piers, Chapel Hill, St. Gluvias – Cornwall (UA). Large Methodist chapel with intact horseshoe galleried interior, along with early pews. Congregation has moved to newly refurbished associated hall and chapel is no longer used. (Historic England)
The inhabitants are partly employed in the woollen manufacture, and others in the Kennall gunpowder mills in the vicinity. There are places of worship for Wesleyans and Bible Christians, also a village school. (Genuki)
Ponsanooth Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis 2020)
1843: Photocopies of working drawings for building of Ponsanooth Wesleyan chapel, St Gluvias. FS/3/1486/1 Ponsanooth Wesleyan chapel, St Gluvias, 1843. (Kresen Kernow FS/3/1486)
1843: Build date. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway / SWChurches)
Built as a Wesleyan Chapel (SWChurches).
Part of Gwennap Wesleyan Circuit. (SWChurches).
1871: “PONSANOOTH. Ponsanooth Chapel Organ. — A correspondent writes to say that the excellent organ in the chapel, which was procured about four years since at a cost of something like £30 ?? has been closed for five weeks, owing to the organist, Miss Roscruge — who has kindly and ably officiated at the instrument since its erection — being on a visit to London. He sensibly suggests that the society should make provision for such emergencies, by engaging the temporary services of some other lady or gentleman as organist.” (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Saturday 07 October 1871)
Circa 1880: Specification, new rostrum, Ponsanooth Wesleyan chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRG/29)
1881-1883: Photograph, choir, Ponsanooth Wesleyan chapel. Photograph of chapel choir and minister, the Reverend Jope, in position inside chapel. (Kresen Kernow MRG/42)
1888: “Ponsanooth Chapel. On Thursday last public meeting was held in the Wesleyan Chapel, Ponsanooth, for the purpose of raising funds to provide new lamps for the chapel, the present ones being worn out.” (Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser – Saturday 04 August 1888)
1889: “PONSANOOTH WESLEYAN CHAPEL TRUST INVITE APPLICATIONS for an ORGANIST and CHOIRMASTER. Candidates must have been members of the Wesleyan Methodist or other Protestant Nonconformist Church of not less than 12 months’ standing. Applications (endorsed tenders for Organist) to be sent, stating terms required and all other information, not later than Thursday, Ist August. 1889, to Arthur S. James. Secretary.” (West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser – Thursday 01 August 1889)
1892: Copy order, running of Ponsanooth Wesleyan chapel, 1892. Copy of Charity Commission order of 15 July 1892, removing and appointing trustees. (Kresen Kernow MRG/38)
1896: Chapel re-opened following renovation. (Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser – Saturday 09 May 1896)
1864-1905: Trust minutes, Ponsanooth Wesleyan chapel, St Gluvias. (Kresen Kernow MRF/266)
Circa 1910: Photograph, Ponsanooth Wesleyan chapel built in 1843. (Kresen Kernow MRG/40 & MRG/41)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Ponsanooth Methodist Church. (SWChurches).
1934: Transferred to Falmouth Methodist Circuit when the Gwennap Circuit was wound up. (SWChurches).
Ponsanooth Methodist Church. Tenders invited from contractors for the laying out of the new cemetery at Ponsanooth. (West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser – Thursday 27 July 1939)
1941: New cemetery opened.
1943-1995: Centenary book, Ponsanooth Methodist Church. Lists circuit ministers, trustees, preachers, leaders, Sunday school officials, choir and members of the congregation, girl’s youth club, Methodist guild, Boys’ Brigade, Home Guard Ponsanooth Section and National Fire Service for the centenary of the church in May 1943. Also lists the services and other events to mark the centenary, 101st and 102nd anniversaries; the preachers and collection and expenditure for the anniversary service 1946; the preachers for the anniversary in 1947 and lists of preachers, visitors and sometimes congregation at anniversary services 1950 to 1995. (Kresen Kernow MRF/1131)
2019: The congregation moved to the Hall, the old Sunday school (see next) and the chapel is now longer used.
2019: For sale.
It is a grade 2 listed building.
1893 Sunday School that became the Chapel in 2019
Methodist Sunday School. Datestone 1892. Granite rubble with granite dressings.
Bitumen coated and grouted scantle slate roof with gable ends. Coped gable end to road front. Plan: Rectangular plan with small wing at the middle of the rear and a porch towards the front on the right. Basement under front end facing road. Exterior: Single storey. Tall unaltered elevations. Symmetrical l:l:l-bay road front with central bay surmounted by pedimented gable and broken forward. Plinth with memorial stones, rusticated granite quoins, granite strings, original round head windows with marginal panes and some coloured glass. Central bay has 3 stepped lights under a round hood mould; flanking bays have single-light windows. Side walls have original 2-light windows with round-headed lights. Gable-ended porch has original pair of doors and 2-pane fanlight. Interior not inspected. (British Listed Buildings)
(Photo: Jo Lewis)
Ponsanooth Methodist Church, Ponsanooth Hall, St Michaels Road.
1893: Built as the Methodist Sunday School.
Rented by the council before becoming a preschool.
2008: Destroyed by fire.
Rebuilt by the community to be a hub for the village.
2019: The Methodist Church moved here from the disused chapel.
It is a grade 2 listed building.